Confession #2

I speak to my dog as if he has good sense.

Jude. Also responds to Pup and Noodle Butt.

 

I know. Lots of people talk to their pets. Big whoop. “Aww, look at the cute wittle doggy! Who's a good doggy? Who's a good doggy?! That's right! YOU are! You're a good doggy! Does doggy want a nummy treat? You do?! Here, have a treat! Good doggy! Aww, such a cute doggy!” No. Just... no.

When I'm home alone every day, it's quiet. Very quiet. So I talk to Jude. More than that, I converse with him—that includes posing questions and waiting for a reply. He does reply, too. In fact, he helps me make many very important decisions throughout each day. Okay... so they aren't important decisions. Mostly he just gives his opinion on what TV shows I should watch.

But wait a minute, Michelle! Dogs can't talk! He can't specifically tell you what to watch!

Well, no, he can't voice his opinion like a human, but Jude lets me know what he thinks. For instance, the question “Jude, do you want to watch Supernatural?” often gets answered with a tip of the head and a thump of the tail. However, “Pup, do you want to watch House?” sends him flying to my bedroom and onto my bed, eagerly waiting for me to turn on the TV. When he sees something he likes, he watches intently. When he doesn't care for what I choose to watch, he simply falls asleep.

(Thus far, the things I have found that intrigue him most are Buffy the Vampire Slayer (mostly the scenes with snarling vampires), Doctor Who (the TARDIS is fascinating), and Band of Brothers. Also, for whatever reason, he is enthralled by Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson. He watched the film Peter's Friends with me a while back, and any time either of them had a line, his ears perked up and he sat up a little straighter. Can't say I blame him.)

And, on the off chance that he doesn't want to watch anything, he just stays where he is while I slink off to my room, my feelings hurt and my tail tucked between my legs.

It's hard not to treat him like a furry little person that comprehends everything I say to him. I mean, he follows me around wherever I go and displays such personality! (Just to prove that I'm not insane in thinking Jude actually responds to me, I've tried talking to my dog, Rascal. It doesn't work. He just sits and stares and looks rather dumb. Sometimes he rolls over and shakes.) Since I have such a social pup, why shouldn't I talk to him? It makes the days feel a little less lonely.